The world of photography presents many exciting opportunities. The most successful photographers are rewarded through the specific niches they chose to follow. In order to be a successful photographer, it’s important to find a lucrative niche that offers ongoing opportunities, and of course, room to have fun and grow.
Learn more about some of the most joy enduring photography niches that have evolved over time.
Event photography
One of the most profitable photography niches is event photography. From concerts and festivals to weddings and corporate events, photographers are one of the most necessary elements of the experience. The best event photographers have perfected the art of telling meaningful stories through their work, leveraging various mediums such as using personalized decorations on the events, providing high-quality pre-event images for save the date cards on wedding events, etc. Although profitable, It is important that photographers invest in the right equipment to get the job done. For event photographers, this includes a variety of costly lenses in order to curate memorable experiences. For wedding photography, you can check out this article from Epik weddings for ideas on couple poses.
Capturing events is not that easy; there are many touching and downright hilarious moments people share with their families and friends on their big days, whether they be weddings, christenings, parties, or special portrait shoots. Check out this blog post by benbeerphoto to understand how a “street,” documentary-style approach is incorporated to achieve the best pictures.
Bringing fairytale weddings to life, taking your favorite bands to your living rooms and recapping any event can be promoted through a mix of classic portrait shots, in addition to videography and audio. The larger the audience, the demand for more photography is needed. Big events also reel in the most profit. What makes event photography so lucrative is that there are always celebrations to be had and that means the more chances to hire photographers.
Sports photography
Sports photography can be a form of event photography, but with amplified visuals. Some of the most memorable athletic moments in history can be recalled by referencing well-known photographs, such as Michael Jordan’s jump shots and Tiger Woods impressive golf swings. These high-speed shots require a lot of talent and skill, and practice of course. The precision is what makes the photographs so memorable.
While sports photography is an exciting niche to have, it’s quite the competing area of work to be in. Have you been to a sporting event where dozens of photographers and videographers are packed on the sidelines with their expensive cameras with prolonged lenses that are needed for motion pictures? It’s a competition to see whose photos make the front page of the national news. This is what makes the niche of sports photography exciting to photographers, and the best ones have mastered the uniqueness of their art that makes them stand out. Adding sports photography to your portfolio will help diversify your work which is important for profitability and overall success.
Real estate & architectural photography
Whether it’s capturing aerial photography of skyscrapers in a big city or snapping staged photographs for leasing purposes, the real estate and architectural photography niche require a special eye to ensure photographs are taken from the most impeccable angles and positions. One disproportionate shot could cost you a closing deal on a new house, or even larger, a commercial building. This area of work is most definitely worthwhile considering the constant stream of projects that arise.
This type of photography is beneficial for designers and architects alike who wish to promote their creations through visual marketing. Unlike event or sports photography where you don’t necessarily need to research your subjects, architectural photography is dependent on the research the photographer puts into the subject. Not examining the subject of your project is one of the most common mistakes that architectural photographers make. The best real estate and architectural photographers work alongside the actual architect, designer or real estate agent. If you’re looking for budget-friendly smartphone real estate photography tips, you must check out some tips specifically for smartphone real estate photography by Photoswithphones.com
Also, if you’re looking for pleasant and clean apartments on the rent check out this real estate agency in Barcelona, providing solutions for those who wish to stay in Barcelona for longer periods.
Food photography
The evolution of social media has skyrocketed the benefits for the food industry and profitability for food photographers, a photography niche that hasn’t always been the easiest to break into. Now there are even special test kitchens being created across the world for the sole purpose of capturing food content. Can you recall any of the famous Tasty recipe videos that you might have observed on Facebook or Snapchat? Those were filmed in specifically designed kitchen-like studios. That in itself is an ongoing money-making channel for food photographers.
Food photography has become one of the most aesthetically pleasing visuals for consumers. Without the progression of successful social media platforms, such as Pinterest and Instagram, food photography would have never taken off, not to mention the free photo editing applications consumers use to enhance their plate of fruit or perfectly curated charcuterie board. As one of the most evolved areas of photography you can only imagine how competitive the space must be. That’s why it’s critical to expand your skill set to strengthen your portfolio to various kinds of photography.
As a creative, having one particular niche that you can perfect overtime doesn’t come as natural as it seems. Creatives such as photographers should acquire many different niches in order to reach a larger audience. Being creative and inventive with what you do with your photography will result in the most profit, and that will help make your photography career invaluable and exciting.
Corporate Photography
In large cities, the niche of corporate photography is often overlooked, but nonetheless a great business to be in. Corporate photographers provide professional business headshots, event coverage and group photos for large corporations(banks, law firms, etc.) Any time you see photos at a bank or advertising the business practices of a fortune 500, a corporate photographer is the one being paid.
In addition to working with executives who appreciate the efficient use of their time, you will find that people in high-level corporate roles also follow your instructions and highly value the final image that is created. One of the often overlooked perks of working a corporate schedule is that you will rarely have to work a late night and even more rarely will you find yourself working at 10 pm on a Saturday.
There are many other photography niches one can pursue, it’s all about the passion and love for photography. For example:
– Photographing the southern night sky, astrophotography.
– If you love nature and wildlife then you can always try wildlife photography. Here is a guide for just doing that.
– If you’re thinking of learning about pet photography, then check out vancouverpetphotography; capturing the love and joy pets bring to our life.
– One of them can be beach photography as well, kids or adults everyone love beaches, the vibe and air around the sea lures everyone. Good pictures with great lighting preserve great memories, check out this blog post by our friend Christian, his experience at the San Pedrito beach in el Pescadero and how he fell in love with this beach and the community.
– Boudoir photography is becoming more and more popular. This form of intimate portrait requires a unique mix of photography skills. See a beautiful example from a boudoir photographer in Chicago.
By Marie Johnson
Contributor to Enlightened Digital, UX Designer and technology writer from New York City. If I’m not writing my latest blog post in my kitchen, you’ll likely find me strolling through Central Park, cappuccino in hand.
If you found the post above interesting, check out the following resources:
Become A Better Photographer: Leading Lines For Photography Composition
Matt Walter Photo: Music Photography
Terri J Photography – Dog Photography Tips
InspiresN – Snow Photography Tips
Cooph – Photography Composition Tips
